pam53's Timeline

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Birds of Passage

Those precious moments&those golden people ! So true. After the all the storms in our lives have blown over, after the din and dust have settled, when we are no more breathing or preaching fire and brimstone, and all our emotional demons have vanished, or been vanquished,……and far away from the ...madding crowd,……in that oblivion , the only thing we remember and cherish (Yadeein) would be a few precious moments spent with a few ' golden people '—some maybe around,……….others may have become ‘birds of passage’. Thank you, @ deepstna for taking out time to read this ‘take’of mine on life, as also for conveying your appreciation, and for giving your own perspective.Regards pam53.Read More

Commented on jmathur's article

Soft targets

A Nation ...In Regression ! I read with interest,and appreciation,the sagacious issues you have raised in your excellent blog,Mathur. The tragedy is that India today is a soft state,both in its relationship with other countries inter se,as well as,when it comes to meting out summary trial,and... speedy punishment to its internal civil anarchists like rioters, religious bigots,or rapists.The vote-bank-at-any-cost political system,as you have rightly identified,the pliant police system,the moribund legal system,the overburdened judicial system,and last,but not the least,our gullible,silent,and passive citizenry,all have played a role in this sorry state of affairs.As a result,there is hardly any political or social censure,or for that matter,hardly any criminal convictions,when there are religious or legal transgressions,what with political patronage for the offenders,a pliable police administration,antiquated laws borrowed from the erstwhile British era,opportunist lawyers ever-ready to defend the worst of crimes etc..... For all the hosannas and paeans we sing about our patriotism,our unity in diversity,or our plurality of religions and their peaceful co-existence,and our ancient culture,I suspect and also feel concerned that India today is perhaps,a ‘nation in regression’,a country torn asunder ,.......where might is right,where one who shouts the loudest is not only heard,but also adjudged to be right,where communalism,religious bigotry and intolerance have become viruses,where women have to tread cautiously,I can go on and on ……..... Regards ,Prakash .Read More

Commented on aazzeem's article

Translating 'Faiz' - Urdu Poetry

From Romance to Reality ! Nice contribution Azeem ! I enjoyed reading both Faiz’s original poem,and your commendable translation,capturing its essence. Though Faiz’s early writings were conformist,dealing with subjects like romance and love,he subsequently also wrote on revolution and realism....The poem you have translated is an example of the latter. Prakash.Read More

Commented on ayanmisra's article

Of the Ambassador & India...

The Amby is dead.Long live the Amby ! ! ! The Ambassador,once upon a time,with its spacious interiors,sturdy looks,and ample legroom,was an iconic car,and ideal for Indian road conditions.With some much-needed innovations,and upgrades,it still could be a good car. Sad to see it go,though even th...en,it will leave a legacy of sorts,as far as cars go.Indians,including officialdom,and even westerners,who visited India,simply loved the 'Amby'. There are press reports of resuming production,and resurrecting it by its manufacturers,Hindustan Motors,through a turnaround of their finances,with the support of the workers,and the government.Only time will tell ! Nice,short,reflective blog,Ayan,that not only takes one down memory lane,but also raises questions about our new-age love for consumerism,and our worship of Mammon ! Enjoyed reading it. Regards.Prakash.Read More

Commented on jmathur's article

O.P. Varma is no more

Condolences ! A touching remembrance of Shri O.P.Varma,Mathur.Never had an opportunity of knowing him.My heart-felt condolences to his family,and friends,like you.May his soul RIP.Prakash.

Commented on aazzeem's article

The death of Auto Kumar - A short story (documentary)

Congrats ! Azeem,congrats for the Featured Status. 'The morning star was visible now,and the pyre was completely cold'......beautiful phraseology,all this . Also,picture of a nicely painted/decorated auto,somewhat in contrast with the subject matter of your blog :) Prakash.

Commented on own article

Birds of Passage

Thanks. @bebylon,@SG21 Prashant,Saurabh,sincere thanks to both of you for sparing time to read my blog ' Birds of Passage',and for showing appreciation .Regards Prakash.

Commented on jmathur's review

My favourite SRK starrer
Kabhi Haan Kabhi Naa -

SRK is one of our few Bollywood stars,(Amitabh Bacchhan,being another star-actor,who immediately comes to mind),who ‘early’ in his career,when he was not established as a star,took risks to portray shades of black or grey,in the characters he enacted then,whether Baazigar(1993), Darr (1993) or KHKN(...1994).The script of KHKN ,a narrative dealing with ordinary incidents in the lives of ordinary people,was transferred sensitively to celluloid by Kundan Shah,while keeping the viewers’ interest alive throughout the movie. All the character actors including the late Goga Kapoor, Naseeruddin Shah, Anjaan Shrivasta, and a host of other performers have given ample support to lend real-life credibility to the movie. Jatin-Lalit have always done justice to their musical craft in all their films,including this one. Apart from the songs you have mentioned,I also like the languid and relaxed ‘Deewana Dil Deewana’, by Amit Kumar and Udit Narayan, and the fast-paced uniquely picturised ‘Sachi Yeh Kahani Hai’. SRK,as Sunil ,brought his unique inflection and style in dialogue delivery to the character (SRK later changed this style,an example is Swades) - and is the life of the movie, trying to woo a youthful and fresh Suchitra Krishnamoorthi (Ana) ,with Deepak Tijori (Chris) completing the triangle. Thank you, Mathur for a good review,and for presenting this twenty-year old SRK retrospective fare,with interesting snippets from the movie to MS readers.I enjoyed reading the review,as well as the nostalgia that it brought in its wake,as this movie happens to be one of my favourites too. Regards,Prakash. Read More

Commented on own article

A mega-marathon called 'India'

@jmathur Thanks @jmathur Thanks mega-writer Mathur for appreciating 'A mega-marathon called India', 'Neta or Nota' ,and some of my other writings on this platform. Warm regards,Prakash :)

Commented on own article

Mumbai Beckons

@emptor (Continued from above to avoid clutter) Ongoing iniatives like Mumbai First have been non-starters ,and the Mumbai Monorail, and the Mumbai Metro ,by the time they become ‘fully operational’,may perhaps be a case of too little, too late. That said, I sincerely thank you for sparing t...ime for reading this blog, and in the process giving your independent perspective. Also thanks for the compliments ,and appreciation. Also belated thanks for being the first to comment on my HDFC Life Insurance review,my first –ever writing on MS,which I posted two years back.I somehow missed out on thanking you then : ) Warm regards. Prakash.Read More

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Mumbai Beckons

Thank you @emptor Vasu,I fully endorse your comments.The punctuality, cleanliness,and above all,the safety standards of the BEST buses, along with the unique queue system relating thereto,were once the pride of Mumbai. Not any more so. Both BEST (under BMC ,since independence), and the suburban... rail network (under the Central Government) started operations in the pre-independence era. One would have expected technological advancements, and proper urban development and infrastructure planning to cater to the the city’s burgeoning population,over the years ,at least from BMC,the country’s richest municipal corporation, whose annual budget is reportedly more than that of some of the smaller states in India. Nothing of the sort happened.And to rub salt into the wounds,I understand that the BMC is not ready to fund,or bail out a now loss-making BEST. So much for all its talk of 'improving' civic amenities in Mumbai.Read More

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The Rendezvous

Thank you. @jmathur The narrative,though fictional,has interfaces with reality,except perhaps in the closing segment. I have read about generally,and also have seen at close quarters,on a couple of occasions,the most productive and powerful men in the corporate sector,or even in the film ...world,losing their sanguinity,and going into depression ,or at other times,into a state of indifference, after losing their life partners.These thoughts,and experiences, I wove into the narration,and then gave it some fictional overtones ,like the slight 'kahani mein twist' in the end.Without the 'twist',the narrative looked very sombre :) Thank you,Mathur for your appreciation,and your generous compliments! Regards,Prakash .Read More

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Visiting A Psychiatrist :Some Useful Tips

Thank You. @jmathur Mathur,no issues,if you missed out on this blog.It happens with me too,when I many a time,I too miss out on several of your prolific,and judicious writings on MS. Nice to know that you are interested and have had an orientation in Psychology in your civil exams.I too li...ke Psychology and used to read books and articles on psychology a lot,earlier. Many emotional illnesses are psychosomatic in origin and Psychology helps us in understanding how the body and mental processes are linked,and together how they determine human behaviour and relationships. That said,thank you so much for your unstinting appreciation,and encouraging comments on this blog of mine.Your endorsement of my suggestions advanced in this blog raise their credibility manifold on the MS platform,and that means a lot to me.Have a nice day. Regards,Prakash.Read More

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Mumbai Beckons

Thanks @maaz_nawaz Thank you Mazharbhai, for your appreciation of my blog,and compliments on FS,as also best wishes,and lovely gift.My best wishes to you too. Regards, Prakash.

Commented on own article

Mumbai Beckons

Thanks @jmathur Thank you,Mathur,once again, for revisiting my blog,your appreciation for its FS,and your best wishes.Please accept my best wishes too. Regards, Prakash.

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Visiting A Psychiatrist :Some Useful Tips

Tall Order.... @jaxcool2007 Jatin,I whole-heartedly agree with your perceptive comments on the approach to emotional illnesses in India. Many families,in India,are in a state of denial,when it comes to emotional illnesses.Again,except within families,such illnesses are a hush-hush matter,and ow...ing to the stigmata attached to them,a visit to the psychiatrist is often the last resort,with the result that the illness,having set in too deep,has probabilities of a delayed recovery,or sometimes,has even fatal consequences like suicides,or other aberrations,that you speak of. A tall order,but I wish,that given the endogenous(internal body) factors,along with the stresses and strains(reactive factors)of modern living that are its constituents,emotional illness is treated on par,with the same equanimity,empathy and compassion,as any 'physical' ailment,........and the stigmata of society around it 'exorcised'.This,in my view, would lead to its early diagnosis,treatment and cure,for the betterment of the individual concerned,as well as society,in general..That should be the way forward. Thanks for your value adding,and encouraging comments,on this post:) Regards.Prakash.Read More

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Visiting A Psychiatrist :Some Useful Tips

THANKS. @jaxcool2007 Thanks once again,Jatin,for reading and appreciating my post.Regards.Prakash.

Commented on own review

Jai Ho!!
Speed Post

@beatlefan Thank you for reading, and rating, and commenting on my review. Nice to know that there are discerning members on MouthShut, who appreciate serious writing. Incidentally, the above review of mine is more than a year and six monts old, and Speed Post services may have undergone a chan...ge in that period for better,or worse.With Government Departments,one never knows.GAK (God Alone Knows).Jai Ho :) Regards. Prakash Read More